4 major observations from Baker Mayfield’s third Panthers practice

Baker Mayfield coped well with Carolina Panthers’ two-minute drill

One notable element to take from the third Carolina Panthers practice in training camp was Baker Mayfield getting a chance to run the two-minute drill which also featured some immediate calls from offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. The coaching staff also threw in some crowd noise to further test the signal-caller, who coped well with the pressure overall.

Mayfield showed his mobility to escape the pocket on one play and did well to recover a fumble from the snap. There was also some solid awareness from the quarterback with a late spike that enabled Zane Gonzalez to strike a field goal through the uprights.

Sam Darnold fared better with the first unit, leading them downfield for a touchdown. Mayfield had the benefit of those further down the depth chart and got the opportunity to experience McAdoo’s play-calling and test his knowledge in real-time.

This is another step in the right direction for Mayfield, who is getting a crash course in McAdoo’s complex scheme before taking the field in Week 1. Anyone expecting miracles right out of the gate was kidding themselves, so gradual progression might be more realistic.

If this transitions into the early stages of the season, it’s not the end of the world. This comes with reps and time on the field, so we might see Mayfield plenty in the preseason, after all.